Today's Opinions

The Trimble County Fiscal Court awarded its bid for establishing a cable television franchise to Centel. The company offered 4.5 percent in gross revenue returns to the county and guaranteed service to 555 homes, in areas with at least 13 homes per mile. Customers could have service as early as the end of August.

As legislators were debating Friday night whether to give final approval to a major revenue bill, someone brought up the old joke about how most of us would prefer to fund government: Don’t tax you, don’t tax me; tax that fellow behind the tree.

This time of year, Americans are taking part in an annual headache-inducing ritual: filing their income tax returns. Most of us dread completing this complicated paperwork and writing a check to the IRS each year, particularly under the current arcane federal tax system. Thankfully, as a result of the historic overhaul of the federal tax code, this is the last time that you will have to file under the outdated and expensive system that has held our country back for far too long.

Trimble County recorded the lowest unemployment rate in all of Kentucky’s counties at 3.9 percent. However, local officials and University of Kentucky agricultural economists disputed the number. The economists cited problems with the way the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the rate results in statistics lower than true unemployment.

Trimble County recorded the lowest unemployment rate in all of Kentucky’s counties at 3.9 percent. However, local officials and University of Kentucky agricultural economists disputed the number. The economists cited problems with the way the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the rate results in statistics lower than true unemployment.

I’ve kept in contact with some very good friends at my alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University. Some friends have gone back after completing a degree to serve there and influence the next generation’s experience while others complete graduate degrees to enhance their post-college prospects. Although I couldn’t be on campus with them, I recently watched from afar at the prospect of cutting the budget...again, the third time in five years.

The common thread binding all good legislation is that, by the time the actual vote arrives, the outcome is all but a foregone conclusion.

It takes a lot of effort to get to that point, of course. Stakeholders need to be included early on, because they are the ones who will be most affected by any change, and the public must have the chance to weigh in as well. It’s a process that can take months, but when it works, the positive impact is measured in years.

High winds toppled trees across highways and county roads, partially destroyed a machine shed and even flipped a mobile home on its side off Palmyra Road. No injuries were sustained during the storms. The Banner notes that most residents suffered a sleepless night.